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Wildlife paths
The first and foremost attraction of the Zator Region is the variety of local landscapes. This small area comprises: the Skawa Valley with a submontane river and stretches of riparian forest, water-filled disused gravel pits with rush vegetation and the rolling terrain of the Bachowice Hills covered with beech wood. Historic towns and villages, like Zator, Graboszyce or Grodzisko, are other assets of the place.
"The Bachowice Hills - beech woodland" circular wildlife path
From-to: Grodzisko - Grodzisko, via Laskowa
Distance: 6.5 km
The wildlife path follows field and forest roads over the rolling terrain of the Wilamowice Foothills, characterized by numerous steep-sloped and deep-bottomed valleys. Some of the valleys are dry ravines, whereas others have brooks running through them. At first, the route leads along a hill ridge, affording an opportunity of admiring a panorama of the Little Beskid and the Maków Beskid Mountains. Then the path enters beech woodland and running on the edge of ravines, it leads to an ancient beech tree of monumental size. Following a forest road, the path passes some small ponds with aquatic and rush vegetation, as well as some patches of the protected the giant horsetail Equisetum telmateia, and finally reaches the turning point in Laskowa. The return route climbs up a wooded gorge, where tree root systems are nicely exhibited. Following a field road, the wildlife path turns back in the direction of Grodzisko. Some fine views over Zator and the Skawa Valley can be admired along this stretch.
"The Skawa River" wildlife path
From-to: Grodzisko - the Skawa River channel
Distance: 1 km
The wildlife path leads through the main ecosystems of submontane river surroundings, allowing live views of an environment that is becoming rarer and rarer in Poland. At first, the route leads through a stretch of riparian forest - a forest characteristic for river valleys. Then, through willow thickets (so called riverside osiers), it leads to a gravel bar right by the Skawa River. The left (southern) fork of the wildlife path runs through riparian forest, alongside massive black poplars, to a site where the ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris grows.
"The water-filled gravel pits" path
From-to: Grodzisko - Zator
Distance: 6.5 km
The path runs over terrain considerably transformed by man as a result of gravel extraction. Nowadays, only numerous water bodies and lack of forest are reminders of the exploitation period. The first attraction of the path is crossing the rivulet Wieprzówka by means of a footbridge. Then the route swerves to the north, passing the shores of consecutive water-filled gravel pits and running along the Skawa River channel, it reaches a forest with some impressive size oaks. Then the path leaves the forest behind and reaches the Piast Reservoir - from here it is just a stone’s throw to Zator. There are some information boards dedicated to the wildlife of ‘the Carp Valley’ on the northern side of the reservoir.
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